Help w/ Pilsner-like Ale

Need some opinions on mash temp and hop schedule.

9.5 # Pilsner
.5 # Cara-Pils

Since my brother is brewing this batch for me, I estimated 70-75% efficiency (normally get 75-80% w/ the BMW crush)....which comes out to 1.047 OG according to Beersmith.

I have 3 oz of 3.5 AA Saaz and another 1 oz of 5.8 AA. I was thinking of using the 5.8 AA for bittering and go from there. Any opinions on FWH'ing? I've never totally understood how it works so I haven't been able to use it for my own recipes yet.

I'll be using Nottingham fermented @ 56-58F. I know Notty usually comes out pretty dry as it is, so what would be a good mash temp considering the .5 # of Cara-Pils?

Thanks a bunch guys!

I'd mash at around 149° to make sure that it gets dry and crisp.

Toss the higher alpha Saaz in at 60 and then .5 oz Saaz at 5 - 10 minutes and you've pretty much got a German Pils recipe.

Is the 5.8%AA the American Saaz variety? If so, could you let me know how everything turns out? I have some in the freezer that I need to use up and was planning on a similiar type of beer you're brewing (though I may throw in some vienna for a touch of maltiness). Thanks so much!

Is the 5.8%AA the American Saaz variety?

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Yes it is. I'll post back for sure when I get to sample it.

Toss the higher alpha Saaz in at 60 and then .5 oz Saaz at 5 - 10 minutes and you've pretty much got a German Pils recipe.

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Cool, I was thinking the same for the 60 min. Would you not use the full 3 ozs then for the late additions?

It depends what you're going for. If you want a pils like fizzy yellow beer then you wouldn't want too much hop aroma/flavor in the finish. It's going to finish pretty low, FG wise, so a little will go a long way.

If you want fairly hoppy pils like beer, maybe go an ounce and a half split up over the last 20 minutes.

.5 @ 20
.5 @ 10
.5 @ flameout

Will give you a little more bittering as well.

For some reason, I feel like a bud light ....

Thanks mmb, I might play around w/ it a little more but so far I'm thinking:

1 oz 5.8 AA @ 60
.5 oz 3.5 AA @ 15
.5 oz @ 10
.5 oz @ 5
.5 oz @ flameout

I'd like to use at least the full 2 oz of the 3.5 Saaz since I'll already have opened the pack.

Edit: Just plugged that into BS and it looks like it only gives me 25 IBUs. Maybe I'll do your schedule and just use a full ounce for each which brings it up to 31 IBUs

Thoughts?

Either one should be fine. Since this should finish pretty low, it will have a pronounced hop presence, more than you might expect. German Pils style is actually fairly bitter for the IBU level.

Getting 2 or 3 oz of hops in there late in the boil will trend more towards an Americanized German Pils. Should be interesting. I'd lean towards the 2oz addition schedule you posted than a 3oz schedule at 20/10/flame.

Either way, should be a nice drinking beer.

Americanized German Pils..

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Well I really fell in love w/ Victory Prima Pils, so maybe that's not such a bad thing?

I might just try the first though and save the other ounce for something else. Can't wait!

Gonna bump this bc I'll be brewing today.

Thoughts on FWH'ing this bad boy? How would you adjust the hop schedule accordingly?

How did this turn out? I hope you remember, given that this post is years old.
Planning my summer beers right now, and I love Prima Pils as well.